Dr. Richard Bowen practices pediatric sports medicine and orthopedics/orthopedic surgery in Los Angeles, CA and Santa Monica, CA. Dr. Bowen is conversant in Spanish. Areas of expertise for Dr. Bowen include scoliosis, neurofibromatosis, and sports health. He is professionally affiliated with UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA, and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. After completing medical school at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine, he performed his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Bowen accepts Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Shield, and more. He has received distinctions including Voted Best Doctors and Southern California Super Doctors. His practice is open to new patients.

Dr. Anthony Scaduto's medical specialty is pediatric orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. These areas are among Dr. Scaduto's clinical interests: scoliosis, neurofibromatosis, and ankle problems. His professional affiliations include UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA, and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Coventry are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Scaduto honors. His education and training includes medical school at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine and residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His distinctions include: Southern California Super Doctors and Voted Best Doctors.

Dr. Robert Kay is a pediatric orthopedics/orthopedic surgery specialist in Los Angeles, CA, Beverly Hills, CA, and Tarzana, CA. He is professionally affiliated with Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). Dr. Kay takes Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Medicare insurance. He is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for residency. Dr. Kay has received the following distinction: Southern California Super Doctors.

Dr. William Oppenheim practices pediatric orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. Clinical interests for Dr. Oppenheim include scoliosis, foot problems, and dislocation. He is in-network for Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Blue Shield, in addition to other insurance carriers. His education and training includes medical school at Georgetown University School of Medicine and residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of Washington. He has received professional recognition including the following: Southern California Super Doctors; Southern California Super Doctors 2008; and Los Angeles Super Doctors. His hospital/clinic affiliations include UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal column, nerves, and muscles. It is what allows our brain and body to communicate with each other. Disorders of the nervous system are treated by a neurologist. When these disorders affect children or teens, they are treated by a pediatric or child neurologist.

Child neurologists have a special understanding of how the nervous system functions in a child’s growing body. Some neurological illnesses are rarely seen in adults, and others have symptoms that are different in children than in adults. Children’s developing brains and bodies can change quickly, and a pediatric neurologist is trained to quickly evaluate and manage symptoms before they cause future problems.

There is a very wide variety of disorders in pediatric neurology. Some issues, like seizures, are quite common, while others are very rare. A few examples of the problems treated by a child neurologist include:

Developmental movement disorders, such as motor delays or low coordination

Hydrocephalus, or fluid in the brain

Brain tumors

Social and behavioral disorders that originate in the brain, such as ADHD and autism (many, but not all pediatric neurologists offer this service)

To figure out what is happening in a patient’s nervous system, pediatric neurologists make frequent use of brain scans. These may be CT scans (computed tomography, which uses x-rays), MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging, done with radio waves and magnets), or PET scans (positron emission tomography, which uses small amounts of radioactive material). In addition, child neurologists may use:

Blood tests

Ultrasounds

Chromosomal testing

EEG (electroencephalogram, a test to measure electrical activity in the brain)

EMG (electromyography, tests to measure how well nerves and muscles work)

Developmental screening tests

Hearing and vision tests

It can be incredibly difficult for parents when their child is hurting or isn’t able to do things that other kids their age can do. A pediatric neurologist is a great resource to help kids with neurological disorders reach their full potential.

Pediatric orthopedic surgery is the surgical specialty that focuses on muscle, joint, and bone issues in children, from infants to teenagers. Because patients this age are still growing, bone and joint problems can be much more significant than they would be in an adult. Growing children also change quickly, and a pediatric orthopedic surgeon is able to tell the difference between a symptom that a child will grow out of, and something serious that should be corrected.

Some of the issues that a pediatric orthopedic surgeon might treat include:

Serious fractures

Limb and spine disorders, such as clubfoot or scoliosis

Uneven leg lengths

Infections and cancers of the bones or joints

Certain conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system in children, such as cerebral palsy

Besides a physical examination, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon often looks at X-rays and sometimes CT scans to determine a patient’s problem. Blood tests may also be ordered to check for any metabolic or nutritional deficiencies. Treatment depends on the disorder, but it may include surgery, manipulation, bracing, casting, or physical therapy.

When illness, injury, or disorders threaten children’s mobility, pediatric orthopedic surgeons work to give them a healthy and active future.